EDD conditional payment STUCK after ID verification - when will benefits resume?
I'm going crazy waiting for EDD to process my ID verification docs! They put my claim on conditional payment hold in January (something about needing additional verification), and I sent in everything they asked for through UI Online. The confirmation shows they RECEIVED my documents on February 13, but here we are in March and my payments are still on hold! The EDD website just says 'pending' with no other info. Does anyone know how long it typically takes for them to lift a conditional payment hold after receiving verification docs? Should I call them or just keep waiting? My rent is due next week and I'm getting seriously worried...
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Sophia Carson
took 4 weeks for me. nothing u can do but wait, EDD moves at glacial speed lol
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Ana Erdoğan
•4 weeks?! I can't wait that long... already been 3 weeks since they got my docs. Did you get backpay for all those weeks once they processed it?
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Elijah Knight
The system is SO frustrating! I was on conditional payments back in January and it took them SIX WEEKS to process my verification documents. No explanation, no updates, just 'pending' forever until one day the money suddenly appeared in my account. And of course you can't get through on the phone to ask about the status. The whole ID verification system is broken!!
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Brooklyn Foley
•This is why I always tell ppl to call as soon as there's ANY delay! The squeaky wheel gets the grease with EDD... they'll let your claim sit there for months if you don't push them.
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Jay Lincoln
I work as an employment counselor, and I can tell you that ID verification processing times vary widely right now. The official timeframe is 10-14 business days, but in reality, it's taking 3-6 weeks for most people. Here's what you need to know: 1. Make sure you sent ALL the required documents (government ID plus the secondary verification document). 2. Check your UI Online inbox daily for any messages requesting additional information. 3. Yes, you will receive backpay for all weeks that were on hold once verification is complete. 4. If it's been more than 4 weeks, you should definitely try to contact EDD by phone. 5. Make sure you keep certifying for benefits every two weeks even while waiting for verification to process. The ID verification backlog has been especially bad in 2025 because of their new security measures.
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Ana Erdoğan
•Thank you! Yes, I sent both my driver's license AND my W-2 form like they asked. I've been checking UI Online every day and still certifying each week. I guess I need to try calling them since it's been over 3 weeks already. Any tips on actually getting through to a real person at EDD? I've tried calling a few times but always get the 'we're experiencing high call volume' message and then it disconnects.
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Jessica Suarez
I was in the exact same situation last month! After waiting 4 weeks with no movement on my claim, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an EDD rep. They got me connected within 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. The rep was able to manually review my documents and release the hold right away. Worth checking out their video demo to see how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Seriously, don't just sit and wait - conditional payment holds can take forever if you don't get someone to manually review your case.
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Ana Erdoğan
•Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely check that out. At this point I'll try anything to get this resolved - I've been calling constantly for the past few days with no luck at all.
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Brooklyn Foley
•I used something similar last year and it worked but just fyi you can also try calling right at 8:01am or 1:01pm right when they open or after lunch break. Sometimes you can get thru that way without paying extra.
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Marcus Williams
Quick question - did they put u on conditional payment or is ur claim just pending?? Those r 2 different things. If ur on ACTUAL conditional payment, u should be getting paid while they review ur docs. If ur just stuck on pending, thats different. Either way u should call them asap!
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Ana Erdoğan
•You know what, I'm not 100% sure now. The letter they sent said something about conditional payments while they verify my identity, but my UI Online account just shows weeks as "pending" and I haven't received any money. Maybe I misunderstood what conditional payment means?
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Jay Lincoln
•This is a common misunderstanding. Conditional payments mean you should be receiving benefits while they verify your identity, but you have to be eligible for conditional payments in the first place. If your claim is brand new or if there are other eligibility issues, they might not put you on conditional payment status. You definitely need to speak with a representative to clarify your status and possibly request conditional payments while your verification is being processed.
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Lily Young
OK so I'm going through this exact thing right now! My timeline: sent docs Feb 2, they received them Feb 4, and my conditional payments JUST started yesterday (March 2) - almost a full month later! What worked for me was calling the identity verification department directly instead of the main EDD line. Their number is different - 866-401-2849 - and they can actually check the status of your ID verification specifically. I called them 3 times before I finally got through but they resolved it in one call.
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Ana Erdoğan
•THANK YOU for this specific number! I'll try calling them tomorrow morning. So glad you finally got your payments. Did they explain why it took so long or was it just the usual backlog excuse?
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Lily Young
•They just said they're backed up and understaffed. The rep told me they're supposed to process ID verification within 10 days but currently running 4-5 weeks behind. But once I got someone on the phone, they were able to look at my documents right then and approve them! So definitely worth calling.
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Sophia Carson
btw dont forget to keep certifying every week even if ur not getting paid yet!! my cousin didnt certify while waiting for his ID verification to clear and then had to appeal to get those weeks back
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Ana Erdoğan
•Yes, I've been certifying every week! That's one thing I made sure to keep doing. Thanks for the reminder though!
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Elijah Knight
This whole ID verification mess started when they got hacked back in 2023. Now EVERYONE has to jump through these ridiculous hoops even when there's no actual problem with their claim. I had to submit my documents THREE TIMES before they'd accept them. Each time they claimed there was some trivial issue - first my ID was "blurry" (it wasn't), then they said they couldn't verify my address (even though it matched), and finally they just mysteriously accepted the exact same documents I'd sent the first time!! EDD makes up their own rules as they go along. 😡
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Marcus Williams
•PREACH!! 👏👏 EDD is a nightmare. And don't get me started on those useless "customer service" reps who can't actually fix anything and just tell u to wait. What exactly are they being paid for??
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Jay Lincoln
•While I understand the frustration, I should clarify that the verification requirements are actually set by federal standards, not EDD making up rules. The ID.me system is trying to prevent the massive fraud that happened during the pandemic. That said, the implementation has been problematic, and wait times are unacceptably long. If your documents are rejected, always ask specifically why so you can address the exact issue.
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Brooklyn Foley
so did u get this sorted out? i'm curious cuz I have same issue now
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Ana Erdoğan
•Update: I finally got through to EDD yesterday using the identity verification number someone shared above (tried 12 times before getting through). The rep looked at my documents and said they were fine but hadn't been reviewed yet due to backlog. She manually processed them and my status changed from pending to paid within hours! All my back weeks were paid too. So definitely CALL them - don't just wait like I was doing. Good luck with yours!
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Raúl Mora
Congrats on getting it resolved! This is exactly why I always tell people to be persistent with calling EDD. I went through something similar last year and it took me literally 47 phone calls over 2 weeks to get through, but once I did, the rep fixed my issue in 5 minutes. The system is so broken that claims just sit there indefinitely unless you force them to look at it. For anyone else reading this - save that ID verification number (866-401-2849) and keep calling until you get through. Also try calling right when they open at 8am or after lunch at 1pm for better chances. Don't give up!
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